FARMS Clinical Rotations

Welcome!

According to our CVM schedule, you will soon be starting your FARM Service rotation. Please note that departure times and student assignments are listed on a calendar at the entryway to Deriso Hall and the bulletin board in the front hallway. These assignments are posted by 10:00 AM of the Friday preceding your rotation.

An orientation to the rotation will usually be given on the first day of the rotation in the conference room (101), unless otherwise noted on the schedule. Be prompt!

Routinely, departures will be from the FARM Service field laboratory at the back of Deriso Hall.

It is your responsibility:

to be on time

with boots

clean cover-all

stethoscope

thermometer

pen, paper

and a cheery attitude!

Be prepared to spend all day, i.e., bring lunch and drink, an insulated lunch box is recommended.Any questions see Delores Foreman, the FARM Service Receptionist/ Clerk or any of the FARMS clinicians.

Enjoy your stay with the FARM Service.

Food Animal Reproduction and Medicine Service Clerkship Ground Rules for Students on Farms Rotation

I. Preface:

We are guests on all of the units/farms we work at and should conduct ourselves accordingly. For the purpose of uniformity, the following guidelines are offered:

FARMS Residents & Interns

Thiago Silva, DVM
Resident

Amy Davis, DVM
Resident

III. Rotation Organization:

Core rotations are two weeks long. An optional two-week elective rotation is also available. Three to six students are assigned to FARM Service at any one time. During the year, we will have externs from other institutions as well.

Visits are made to one or two farms per weekday. The duration of each visit varies, as do departure times. Consult the FARM Service calendar/schedule for departure times. On Friday, student presentations/case rounds and clinicians’ literature reviews will take place. If scheduling permits, students will also attend CVM seminars.

IV. Student Responsibilities:

Client visits: Be prompt, properly attired and in problem solving mode for all farm visits.

Emergency duty: A student is on call each weekday evening and all day on the weekends and holidays. Check the duty schedule on the first day of the rotation.

Literature Review: All students will participate in a scientific-literature review to be given on the last Friday of the rotation. The paper will be selected by students on the first Friday of the rotation. It must be pertinent to the field of herd health, food animal reproduction or preventive medicine, and must be approved by a faculty member. The objective is to stimulate discussion and to introduce the student to critical reading of the literature.

Case presentations: An informal case rounds presentation will be given at the end of each week’s work. In addition, elective students will prepare a consultant type farm report for a visit which they went on during the elective rotation. This report should focus on a health or management problem that was seen and preventive measures discussed. Sample farm reports are available in the reading room or the FARM Service conference room for review.

V. General Objectives:

The general objectives of the Food Animal Reproduction Medicine Service Clerkship are to:

provide instruction for the prevention, control, and treatment of infectious/non-infectious, parasitic diseases and poisonings of food animal species as encountered on farm calls during the rotation. To attain these goals, individuals must develop a minimum level of expertise in basic clinical knowledge and skills.

provide a clinical experience with emphasis on programmed health care delivery for a flock or herd of animals.

provide the clerkship students with an appreciation of the economic value of an individual animal and herd or flock.

VI. Specific Objectives:

Each student should be able to perform or demonstrate proficiency in each of these large animal clinical procedures in a satisfactory manner. If the student does not have the opportunity to perfect these, seek instruction from FARM Service clinicians to practice and develop these skills.

VII. Preparation:

On the FARM Service rotation you will directly contribute to the veterinary care of animals. Be prepared for the rotation by reminding yourself in advance of some of the procedures you will likely encounter. These references are compiled in a booklet kept in the reading room. It is suggested you read these before starting the rotation.

If you have questions about the animal industry, or aspects of food animal veterinary medicine, please ask. We realize that most of you will not be entering food animal practice, but hope that this introduction to food animal practice will allow you, an insight into how a food animal enterprise operates and how veterinarians contribute to these industries.

VIII. Grading:

Students are graded on knowledge of subject area, clinical performance, professional attitude and readiness to practice. All clinicians and residents are involved in the grading process. A great part of your grade will depend you’re your promptness, alertness, reliability, attitude and attendance.

If you must be absent, contact the instructor as early as possible. Let us know if you are sick. Unexcused and unexplained absenteeism will result in a lowered grade or an Incomplete! If something unexpected comes up, let us know – we’ll work it out.

If, toward the end of your rotation, you feel there is something you have missed, let us know. We will do our best to provide you with a learning opportunity.

Enjoy your stay in the FARM Service.

As part of both the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and the Academic Health Center, Veterinary Medicine is dedicated to advancing animal, human and environmental health through teaching, research, extension and patient care.

Need animal care? Visit the UF Small Animal and Large Animal Hospitals. From dogs, cats, birds and exotics to horses, cattle, llamas, pigs and many other large farm or food animals, our experienced veterinarian staff is ready to assist.